Self-adjusting tire-chain device



June 17, 1930. B. APSPINNEY 1,764,311

SELF ADJUSTING 'iIRE CHAIN DEVICE Filed July 2. 192a Jaw/liar Patented June 17, 1930 UNFITEDYST'ATEIS PATENT OFFICE;

BURTON A. SPINNEY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA stir-ADJUS ING TIRE-CHAIN DEVICE Application filed July 2, 1928. Serial No. 289,805.

the chains at their ends on the oppositesides of the tire by means of annular ele ments including tension members, preferably comprising compressible springs each arranged in a novel casing.

l/Vith theseand other. objects in View, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my self-tensioning non-skid-device,

whereby the, objects contemplated are. at-

tained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in myclaims, and illustrated] inthe accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure l shows a side elevation of my improved self-tensioning sembled on-a vehicle tire. y

Figure 2 is a top or plan viewpof a short section of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal,sectional View through one of the'tensioning, springsand itscase. A l i i,

Figure5 is a detail, sect-ionalview taken on the line5--5 offFigure4; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of my device' 7 r In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a pneumatic tire. A great many tires, as now manufactured, have treads which are thicker at their side walls, and so that shoulders .12 are formed at the edges of the treads.

My improved self-tensioning non-skidde' vice comprises annular members, which are intended to be at the sidesof the t re when non-skid device as the device is installed 'on the tire, which H annular members are composed in each instance ot a series of resilient elements connected together 111 a way which w1ll be here 7 inafter described.

I shall first describe one of theresilient elements. Each element comprises a casing indicated generally at A. Each casing A comprises two halves made up of opposite members 14 and 16 respectively. The members 14' and 16 have the form of a hollow quarter cylinder. I

The members 14 are opposite each other and the members 16 are opposite each other.

Each ofthe members 14 and 16 has along its longitudinal edgesoutwardly extending flanges 14 and 16 respectively. Atone' end of the members 14, they have formed in tegrally with their bodies overlapping'discshaped end members 14 Themembers 14 at one end aresecured together by a rivet or the like 18. r 1

At the other end otthe members 14 are similar overlapping disc members 14. 4

The members 14 and:14 arearranged to form'end members to keep out dust, mud

At one end ofthe members 16 are even lapping discs 16 secured integrally to the respective members 16 and connected together by arivet .20. At the other end of the members 16- are corresponding discshaped end members 16.

' An I-bolt 22 is secured ,to the members 14 and a similar I-bolt24is secured to the 7 members 16 Received withinthe casing formed bythe members 14 and l6jli's a compressible coil spring 26. By pulling on the respectiveL bolts 22 and24,'l the spring is'compressed between the -members 14 and 16 On each side of the tire, a series of the compressible elements A are connected together. into an annular member.

Between each successive pair of resilient elements Ais a plate 28 preferably'of-sheet metal, to which the adjacent I-bolts 22 and 240i two adjacent members A are {secured near one edge, as illustratedn for instancein Figure 2.

Each plate 28 projects from the members A circumferentially around the tire toward the tread thereof. Each plate 28 is formed with an inclined portion 28 extending slightly over the tread portion of the tire. The portion 28* is formed at its edge farthest from the members A with an out-turned edge 28". The portion 28 is formed with spaced, inclined slots 30. The portions of the parts 28 having the slots 30 are slightly out-turned.

The plates 28 on opposite sides of the tire are connected together by a series of diagonally inclined chains 32, which are secured to the portions 28 of the plates 28 byextend ing links of the chain through the holes 30.

In Figure 2, I have shown an arrangement of these chains, which, taken together and withthe plates 28, form'one continuous connection.

In Figure 6, I have shown the chains aranged to be connected at the middle of the tire by rings 34, the chains in the modified form being indicated by the reference numeral 32 Thus the annular members, resilient elements A, and the plates 28. on each side of the tire are connected together by the chains 82 or 32.

In the installation of a self-tensioning,

non-skid device ofthe kind herein described,

the user simply puts a portion of the device over a'portion of the tire, and then by stretching one of. the annular members, the device canbe forced 'into position on the tire, and will automatically tension itself. There will be enough play to allow some creep'of the whole device around the tire, so that the non-skid chains will not wear the tire excessively in certain places.

The advantage of being able to-put on the chains by simply fitting over the tire is a matter of great importance. Such a device can be put on quickly and easily.

It will always properly. tension itself, so that it will not-be loose, and so that there are no parts left to strike the :fenders or other parts of the car, and so that there is nodanger of the device accidentally coming off, because it might/be too loose. 1

The tension on both sides ofithe device will hold it properly centered, an'dII find that the-bearing of the shoulders l2'helps tov keep the {whole device centered, because thedevicetends to adjust itself to position where the shoulders 12 fit the bendbetween the main body of the plate 28 andits part28. V

No hooks oritoolsarerequired for putting the device on the. car; There are no loose 1 parts. The device will automatically adjust itself to mainiain' its tension. alt can creep enoughto prevent excessive wear. .The springs are projected from dirt,pebbles and weather. Compression springs are not likely plates against the 7 to be broken, and if one should break, the device will not accidentally come off.

It will, of course, be understood that the disc members 16 and 14 are of such a size as to slide between the members 14 and 16.

Some changes may be made in the 0011- struction and arrangement of the various parts of my device, without departing from the essential features and purposes of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a resilient member comprising a casing formed with two halves, said halves being composed of opposite, spaced members, each in the shape of a quarter cylinder, the halves being slidably connected together and-having at their ends disc-shaped end members, whereby an extensible closed housing is formed and a. coil spring in said housing. f

2. In a device of the class described, a resilient element comprising a casing made of two halves slidably connected together and formed with end members, a coil spring in said casing, and completely housed there- .by throughout the entire contractive and exalternating edge to edge for forming a closed casing and resilient extensible means in said casing and housed thereby regardless of the telescopic posltion of one frame member relative to the other.

4. A tensioner comprising a casing composed of a plurality of sections arranged edge to edge, aplurality of end members connected with the ends of alternate ones of said sections, attaching devices at opposite ends of said tensioner and connected with certain of said end members and a spring interposed between the remaining end members at opposite ends of said tensioner and locatedinside of the sections of said casing whereby to be completely enclosed in all positions of contraction or expansion thereof.

BURTON A. SPINNEY. 

